Community bid to save 'heart of the village' pub in Grampound

Locals are hoping to find a buyer for the Dolphin Inn, which is on sale

Simon Fielder and Rob McGuinness
Author: Megan PricePublished 3rd Mar 2025
Last updated 3rd Mar 2025

A Cornish village are pulling together with the hopes to save their much-loved, only pub.

The Dolphin Inn in Grampound has been put up for sale for £415,000 by the owners St Austell Brewery by April this year.

A group 'Grampound Community Hub' has formed to explore the possibility of buying it and running it in the community.

Simon Fielder, part of the community group, said:

"We feel the pub is the heart of the village"

"We want the pub to continue. The village needs a pub."

Simon added: "Most people want a village pub, they want decent food and somewhere they can socialise because it's important.

"Ideally, the brewery would find a buyer but if that doesn't happen, there's a fairly large group of us who would look at the possibility of buying it and running it, one way or another.

Rob McGuinness, parish councillor in Grampound, told us:

"It's important"

"It is the only pub in the village, we do have a village hall and a shop which are community based. (We're looking for) a pub group, an independent landlord, restaurateur, anybody who can take it over really and run it as a business. It's the heart of the community."

A spokesperson from St Austell Brewery said:

“Our business partners at the Dolphin Inn in Grampound have decided to move on, and after much consideration, we are now looking to pass on the ownership of this much-loved pub.

“The sale is a great chance for someone to take on a pub with great potential for future success as a freehold, and we’re pleased that the pub has been listed as an Asset of Community Value, meaning that the community can put a bid in for the pub.

"Robbie, Tracey and Neil at the Dolphin Inn have been great business partners and will be leaving in April.”

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